Safety device.



G. E. BURKE.

SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1913.

1,088,528. Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

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ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES ARKANSAS.

SAFETY DEVICE.

1,t]tSS,528.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2st, 191%.

Application filed July 25, 1913. Serial No. 781,210.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. BURKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at- Argenta, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas,have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to a safety device for railway cars, and moreparticularly to the class of brake applying devices for derailed cars.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter where in on derailment of a car the air brakes will beautomatically set, thereby preventing the travel of the car afterderailment, the device being of a novel form and is rea ily and easilyapplied to a car.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which is simple in construction, positive and etlicient in itsoperation, durable, possessing few parts, and also which may bemanufactured at a minimum expense.

l Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing,and pointed outin the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevation of a car,showing the device applied thereto, the same being illustrated by fulllines in normal position and by dotted lines in position for setting thebrakes. Fig. 2 is a sectional view 011 the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrow.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 5 designates a portion of a boxear, 6 a part of the truck, 7 the axle, 8 the car wheels, and 9 thejournal boxes for the said axle 7, which are of the ordinary well-knownconstruction, the car wheels being adapted to travel upon the trackrails 10 as usual.

Suitably supported beneath the car body 5 is a main air line pipe 11 ofan air brake system of any preferred form, and tapped to the said pipe11 at one side of the car axle 7 is a T-coupling 12 to which isconnected a depending branch pipe 13 provided with a valve cook 14 whichis formed with an escape nipple 15 communicating with the atmosphere, sothat on the turning of the valve plug 16 of the said cock in onedirection the air in the train pipe 11 can be bled to the atmosphere forthe application of the brakes, the plugs 16 of the valve cocks beingcontrolled by means of the safety appliance device presently described.

The safety appliance or device comprises a split guide pulley or wheel17, the two parts of which are designed to be fitted and se cur-elyfastened about the axle 7 and are fastened together in any suitablemanner. Arranged between the spaced peripheral flanges 18 of this pulleyor wheel 1'? is a valve operating bar or rod 19, one end of which isloosely connected to an eye member 20 fixed in the bolster 6 of the car,while the opposite end of the said bar or red 19 is engaged in abifurcated portion 20 of a throw lever or arm 21 which is det-achablyconnected to the valve plug 16, in this instance the said lever or arm21 being fastened to the plug 16 through the medium of a removablecotter pin 22 which is engaged in the plug in the ordinary wellknownmanner. However, the said arm or lever 21 can be detachably mounted onthe plug in any other suitable manner.

In the operation of the safety appliance, should the car wheels 6 leavethe rails 10 of the tracks the axle 'Z is shifted laterally as a resultthereof, which throws the bar or red 19 laterally in one direction,thereby rocking or swinging the arm or lever 21 in a direction to turnthe plug 16 which opens the valve cock 14, thus permitting thecompressed air in the train pipe 11 to escape to the atmosphere and inthis manner the brakes on the car are instantly applied. The bifurcatedportion of the arm or lever 21 during the movement thereof rides off ofthe bar or rod 19 so as to avoid breakage of the safety appliance duringderailment of the car. When the car has been placed upon the track rails10 it is necessary to detach the arm or lever 21 from the plug 16 of thevalve cook 14: and thereafter engage the bar or red 19 in the bifurcatedportion 20 of the said arm or lever which is then fastened to the plugof the valve cock and is in normal position for subsequent operation inthe application of the brakes should the car again become derailed.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner ofoperation of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a moreextended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is 1. A safety device of the class described comprisinga guide wheel adapted to be fastened to a car axle, an operating rodengaged in the guide wheel and adapted to be swingingly connected to thebolster of a car, and a valve turning member adapted to be connected tothe exhaust valve of an air brake system and en ageable with the operating rod whereby on the swinging of the latter the said member theopening of the valve.

2. A safety device of the class described comprising a guide wheeladapted to be fastened to a car axle, an operating rod engaged in theguide wheel and adaptedto be swingingly connected to the bolster of acar, a valve turning member adapted to be connected to the exhaust valveof an air brake system and engageable with the operating rod, whereby onthe swinging of the latter the said member will be moved for the openingof the valve, the said wheel being formed in two sections, and means forsecuring the sections together about the car axle.

3. A safety device of the class described comprising a guide wheeladapted to be fastened to a car axle, an operating rod engaged in theguide wheel and adapted to be swingingly connected to the bolster of acar, a valve turning member adapted to be will be moved for.

connected to the exhaust valve of an air brake system and engageablewith the operating rod, whereby on the swinging of the latter the saidmember will be moved for the opening of the valve, the said wheel beingformed in two sections, means for securing the sections together aboutthe car axle, and means for detachably connecting the member to theturning plug of the exhaust valve.

a. A. safety device of the class described comprising a guide wheeladapted to be fastened to a car axle, an operating rod en gaged in theguide wheel and adapted to be swingingly connected to the bolster of acar, a valve turning member adapted to be connected to the exhaust valveof an air brake system and engageable with the operating rod, whereby onthe swinging of the latter the said member will be moved for the openingof the valve, the said wheel being formed in two sections, means forsecuring the sections together about the car axle, means for detachablyconnecting the member to the turning plug of the exhaust valve, and afork formed on the member and straddling the said rod to permitseparation of the member from the rod when the latter swings beyond apredetermined distance.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. BURKE.

Witnesses:

Janus A. GRAY, MARTIN A. LALLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. C.

